(no subject)

[gothwalk]

People. May I make a request, please? If you have something to say, say it. I've read about ten entries on LJ in the last week that were so cagily phrased, so hidden, so abstract, that they were genuinely annoying.

Something's bothering me, and I know what it is, but I'm not going to say anything about it here, because that might mean I had said something, and someone might hold that against me. So instead I shall say that I'm thinking something, but I won't tell anyone what it is, and then I'm secure in the knowledge that nobody understands me, because I haven't given anyone the chance, but I will have got some attention, because I want that, but I don't want to actually do anything for it.

</parody>

Even if you still don't want to post it publically, then mail me. I volunteer to listen to anything you want to tell me, so that you can get it the hell out. It's cathartic, and from the sound of things, there are people out there who need some catharsis. And it won't go any further. And I won't be offended.

Comments

[ex-meta.livejournal.com]

Otter!

Mmm... otters (http://www.pobox.com/~meta/otters/)...

[cissa.livejournal.com]

An excellent point. That annoys me, too. If you don't want to say something, the best way to achieve it is to actually not say anything; whereas, if you do want to say something, this can best be achieved by saying it.

If ambivalent, decide which you prefer...

[microgirl.livejournal.com]

It's not always that easy, Drew. Speaking as someone who does that, there are times when you do really want to talk about something, but really, really can't. When you either know it's a bad idea, or it's just something you know is stupid and that you're over-reacting. We're not actually doing it to piss you off. And sometimes you really just do'nt want people to know, because you're embarrassed or whatever, but (if you're like me) can't actually keep your mouth shut and have to say *something*. And actually, it is quite cathartic, thank you very much :P

And sometimes we *don't* know what's bothering us, just that we're bothered, and this is as good an arena for sound-bouncing and figuring things out as anything else. And sometimes there simply are no solutions to what's bothering you, and you don't actually feel there's any point in really telling anyone the details because there isn't actually anything constructive they could do, and it's likely to just make them feel helpless and useless. Sometimes all you want is a hug and someone to tell you they love you, and they don't need details for that; they just need to know you're feeling shit. Yes, it's about attention. What do you want us to do to get it, cut ourselves?

Ultimately, it's people's blogs, they can use it for what they wish and say what they like (as long as it's not deliberately offending others, IMHO)

Hmm, I should have made this an entry in my own lj :)

(And should also add that although I use the first person plural throughout the above speech, obviously I can really only speak for myself, and shouldn't assume that this holds true for everyone. Some of them might genuinely be muppets :) )

[shiftercat.livejournal.com]

The funny thing is, I've read posts that are almost exactly like that. And yes, they are annoying. "Something's bothering me and I don't know what" is fine, as is "Trouble with relationship/work/whatever stuff, don't want to air dirty laundry just now", but "Something's bothering me but I'm not gonna tell you" is just immature. This is what the Private or Friends Only settings are for.